Magnetically levitated vehicle with module construction of suspension and propulsion means

Abstract

A magnetically levitated vehicle comprising: a body; and a plurality of modules arranged on said body in close positional relationship in two rows symmetrical with reference to the longitudinal vertical plane traversing the body and each including a frame, one or more attractive electromagnets, a propulsive linear motor and a suspension structure disposed between said frame and the body and including cushioning and shock-absorbing members and link mechanisms for imparting a degree of freedom to the relative movement of the frame and the body, the electromagnets and the linear motor, being fixedly attached to the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetically levitated vehicle comprising: a body; a plurality of modules arranged on said body symmetrically in two rows with reference to the longitudinal vertical plane traversing the body, each module including a frame and at least one attractive electromagnet for magnetically levitating said vehicle; and a suspension structure disposed between said body and each said module for connecting said body and said module, said suspension structure including a first link means for preventing rolling motion of said module relative to said body about the longitudinal axis of said electromagnet, and a second link means for preventing the longitudinal movement of said module relative to said body, wherein said first and second link means permit pitch, yaw, vertical and lateral movement of said module relative to said body. 
     
     
       2. A magnetically levitated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said suspension structure includes a vertical cushioning and shock-absorbing means and a lateral cushioning and shock-absorbing means. 
     
     
       3. A magnetically levitated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first link means comprises a first link mechanism including a first link member pivotally connected at its one end to said body and a second link member connected at its one end to the other end of said first link member and at its other end to said frame through spherical joints, respectively; and a second link mechanism including a pair of parallelogrammic link mechanisms having one link member common to each other, one of which mechanisms is connected to said frame and the other of which mechanisms is connected to said body, either of said two parallelogrammic link mechanisms having four connecting joints made through spherical joints and wherein said second link means comprises a thrust link connected between said frame and said body. 
     
     
       4. A magnetically levitated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first link means comprises two brackets extending horizontally towards the central axis of the body each bracket fixedly connected at its one end to said frame and at its other end to a common link through a spherical joint, said link vertically extending and being connected at its other end to said body through a spherical joint and wherein said second link means comprises a thrust link connected between said frame and said body. 
     
     
       5. A magnetically levitated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first link means comprises a first link member having its one end pivotally connected to said frame so that it is horizontally pivotable and having its other end connected, through spherical joints, to each of a pair of second and third parallel link members which are connected to said body through spherical joints, said first link member extending longitudinally of said body, and wherein said second link means comprises a thrust link connected between said frame and said body.